We started a seaside hike with four of us on one of the barrier islands along the gulf coast. It was exciting to take regular breaks to construct natural materials sculptures. A wonderful variety of natural debris gets swept onto the beach.
Nature can be a creative inspiration.
I got several suggestions for naming the sculptures.

Nature Finds a Balance
The lower shelf, balance with sea shells, responds to the changing winds.

Nature Finds a Balance

Rest Awhile
Some of the details are hard to spot.

Rest Awhile

Scorpion
A very different effect when viewed from the opposite direction.

Sand Dial
This also represents the revolving or cyclical nature of weather and seasons.

Blue Heron
A still image doesn’t capture the lighter material at it blows in the wind.

Tired Runner with Warning Flag
I would have named this on “Nose Dive”. Others saw something different.

Tired Runner Recuperating

Shrimp Nets Drying
The shrimp boats in the area are often seen with nets hanging off both sides.

Shrimp Nets Drying

A shrimp boat working on the Gulf.

Alligator enjoying the sun
You just never know when you meet an alligator.
After constructing the sculptures, I headed alone to the end of the barrier island while the others turned back. It turned out to be a 35 km hike that took 7 hours.

Ghost Crab Making Trails
It is not very usual to spot a ghost Crab during daylight hours. They do make distinctive patterns in the sand. Some carry the sand much further than others.

Crab Design
The thin layer of black sand gives a sharp contrast to the sand dredged from deeper down.

Fowl Footprint
These footprints are larger than my hand. They were blue Heron prints; sized 9 and a half. My size 10 shoe print below.


Waters Converging
This is the end of a sand spit where the waters of the gulf meet the waters from the bay. Over time, the position of the sandpit changes dramatically.

Gulf Shoreline
Several kilometers down the coast from the last houses. Very few people venture this far.

Adorned Driftwood
In keeping with the by line, “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints,” I put the seashells I had collected on the driftwood.

Lapping Edge
Near the end of the barrier island, the most noticeable thing was the smell of bird droppings. As I approached a squadron or pouch of over 100 pelicans, they took to the water. I,was welcoming them but they weren’t interested in welcoming me. I got the message that I was intruding on their favourite resting area.

Solitary Fishing Spot
This egret did not tolerate my approach, not expecting an intruder at this isolated pool.

Dune Erosion
There is clear evidence of the wind and waves building up the sand dunes in some places and eroding them in other places.

Nature’s Own Art
Even in very arid looking stretches of sand and surf, plants manage to get a foot hold, starting a new cycle of natural succession, culminating in the growth of long leafed pine.

Grey Skies Over Black Sands
A thirty-five kilometer hike to the end of a barrier island was an amazing experience. The experience included seeing undisturbed driftwood, and larger than usual seashells.
The weather was constantly changing. The fog would move in, making the world much smaller. The right setting for a meditative walk.
The sculptures that we built out of natural materials didn’t hold a candle to the beauty of the wind and the waves playing freely with the sand.








This was just a small sample of the limitless beauty.


Saying farewell to a majestic Heron.
Some great February memories of our visit to the Gulf of Mexico.
Jasper Hoogendam (c) February 2023